What Millions Of Young People In Australia Really Think

Inspired by the original “What Millions of Young People Really
Think” project by artist Adrian Fisk in China and India, Gloobbi
has continued this project in France (click
here), Spain (click
here) and now Australia, where our Australia-based
photographer Bianca Anderson reports.

Talking with individuals in these different locations, this
project aims to create a snapshot portrait of what young people
really think about contemporary issues relevant to them.

In recent years, when we have seen many first world countries
crumble economically, Australia has been hailed as somewhat of a
haven from this market misery. Indeed 2012 marked the 21st
recession-less year for Australia, a phenomenon that is still
forthcoming for vast number of countries.

This is in part perhaps because of a shift in foreign policy in
the last 20 years away from Europe and America toward Asia,
leading The Economist to suggest that the Australian economy is
“hitched to the China bandwagon.”

These trade links, along with a dismantling of the “White
Australian” immigration policy in the years following World War
II, led to an influx of non-European immigration to Australia,
something which has remained a politically sensitive issue.

Therein lies a paradox: 2008 saw an official state apology for
the atrocities committed against the Aboriginal population-
intending to draw a line under that murky era of Australian
history- yet the government continues its questionable
deportation practices, namely the detention camps widely
criticised for human rights violations.

Clearly the parallels here are painfully obvious, student and
volunteer Oliver Shen expressed his disgust at this situation
writing: “Asylum seekers are under unjust detainment. They’re
only asking for protection here, not further persecution!” There
seemed to be an acute awareness of this amongst the young people
Gloobbi spoke with, and moreover a desire to move Australian
immigration policy and culture in general on from this ethical
shadiness.

There may well be a general indignation surrounding this amongst
young educated people, but journalist Carla Kweivio-Okai pointed
out that in terms of government policy this is something set to
continue. She spoke of her anger at the recent government plans
to divert $375 million in foreign aid to fund Australia’s costly
and punitive asylum seeker camps.

Andy Kelly, a student, picked up on this argument also by
highlighting the irony of the sixth largest country in the world
by land mass, with a comparatively small population concentrated
largely in the urbanised east, turning people away at the door.

Despite a distinct trend in concerns over immigration policy and
the high cost of living in Australia, summer was in full swing as
Gloobbi conducted its interviews and despite the doom and gloom,
the laid back spirit Aussies are famous for shone through.

“Be more colourful!,” student Jonah Lucero implored us, “give me
a smile!” beamed student Andrea Peintner over her card. It seems
that the world may be falling apart but the sun is still shining
in Australia.